MUSIC | Folk
Paisley ■ Karine Polwart Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, 0300 300 1210. 7.30pm. £13 (£11). Songs from the award-winning singer-songwriter. Tuesday 21
Glasgow ■ Lizanne Knott The Admiral, 72a Waterloo Street, 221 7705. 8pm. £10. Singer-songwriter Knott performs dark poetic ballads and roots driven folk.
Edinburgh ■ Kevin Gore and Jimmy Livingston Victoria Park Hotel, 221 Ferry Road, 454 2060. 7.30pm. £7. Contemporary acoustic folk from this Edinburgh singer-songwriter. Paisley ■ Benny Gallagher, Bob Wood & Colin MacFarlane Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, 0300 300 1210. 7.30–10.30pm. £15. See Mon 20. ■ Kris Drever & Eamonn Coyne Paisley Arts Centre, New Street, 0300 300 1210. 7.30pm. £10 (£8). Orkney’s singer/guitarist export, bringing a fresh new sound to the folk scene accompanied by Coyne on banjo/guitar.
Wednesday 22 Edinburgh ■ Mohammed-Reza Shajarian and Shanaz Ensemble Usher Hall, Lothian Road, 228 1155. 7.30pm. £25–£40. Mohammed-Reza Shajarian is a giant of Persian music, as singer, composer and all-round master; he has two Grammy nominations, two medals from UNESCO and although he’s a national institution in his native Iran, he’s become a popular hero for refusing since 2009 to allow the government to broadcast his music over the radio, in protest against the Ahmadinejad regime’s harsh treatment of political dissidents. ■ Lizanne Knott Edinburgh Folk Club, Cabaret Bar, 60 The Pleasance, 650 2458. 8pm. £10 (£9; members £7). See Tue 21.
Dundee ■ Scott Matthews Marryat Hall, City Square, 01382 434940. 7.30pm. £12 (£10). Solo artist from Wolverhampton whose folk/blues influenced sound can be heard on albums Passing Stranger and Elsewhere, the latter of which featured a duet with Robert Plant. Isle of Mull ■ Robyn Stapleton & Claire Hastings An Tobar Arts Centre, Argyll Terrace, Tobermory, 01688 302211. 4pm. £4 (£2). Young folk vocal duo from Dumfries & Galloway. Part of Live Music Now Scotland.
Thursday 23
Glasgow ■ Peatbog Faeries Òran Mór, 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 7pm. £19.68. The Skye-based band fuses traditional Scottish pipe and fiddle tunes with jazz, hip hop, reggae and electronic influences. ■ Red Molly CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 8pm. £12.43–£14.62. NYC female Americana trio. Edinburgh ■ Scott Matthews The Voodoo Rooms, 19a West Register Street, 556 7060. 7.30pm. £13.50. See Wed 22.
Crail ■ Flossie Malavialle Crail Folk Club, Town Hall Marketgate, 01333 450909. 8pm. £6. French singer and guitarist. Falkirk ■ Dave Gibb Falkirk Folk Club, The Tolbooth Tavern, Tolbooth Street, 07535 097296. 8pm. £tbc. Folkster Gibb
92 THE LIST 16 Oct–13 Nov 2014
presents an original mix of wit and tunes. Friday 24
Glasgow ■ Scott Matthews Òran Mór, 731–735 Great Western Road, 357 6200. 7pm. £13.50. See Wed 22. ■ Rab Noakes & Kathleen MacInnes St Andrews in the Square, 1 St Andrews Square, 559 5902. 7.30pm. £16. Folk songs in Scots and Gaelic. Edinburgh ■ Ceilidh at The Counting House Counting House, West Nicolson Street, 667 7533. 8pm. £8 (£6). The Annasach Ceilidh Band provide the live music at this ceilidh dance with a caller. Under 18s are welcome but must be accompanied by two adults over 25. ■ Quercus The Queen’s Hall, 87–89 Clerk Street, 668 2019. 8pm. £22 (£16). Smoky-voiced folk singer June Tabor and jazz musicians Iain Ballamy and Huw Warren in their jazz-folk fusion trio. ■ Balkanarama Potterrow, Bristo Square, 650 4673. 10pm–3am. £9 in advance; £10 on the door. A blend of klezmer, Balkan, gypsy punk and electronic beats featuring live music, bellydancing, VJs and a live jam session. Featuring Smash Kafana.
Airdrie ■ Gaberlunzie Airdrie Town Hall, Stirling Street, 01698 403120. 7.30pm. £10. Both modern and traditional tunes, plus between-song banter in their inimitable style from these all-round entertainers, who have been in the performing game for over 30 years. Dunfermline ■ Dunfermline Folk Weekend Various venues: Dunfermline, dunfermlinefolkclub.co.uk Times vary. Prices vary. Opening with a family ceilidh on the Friday evening, the weekend proceeds with a selection of workshops, sessions, open stage, family events and concerts, run by a folk club that’s been in existence now for over 50 years.
Pitlochry ■ Dougie MacLean and Rachel Sermanni Fonab Castle Hotel, Foss Road, 01796 470140. 8pm. £22. Grizzled folk veteran and fresh-faced young star share the stage to open 2014’s Perthshire Amber. Part of Perthshire Amber.
Saturday 25
Glasgow ■ Balkanarama Glasgow School of Art, 167 Renfrew Street, 353 4500. 10.30pm–2am. £9 in advance; £10 on the door. See Fri 24. Edinburgh ■ Scots Music Group Ceilidh St Bride’s Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, 346 1405. 8pm–midnight. £8 in advance, £10 on door (£6 in advance, £8 on door)). Fundraising ceilidh of traditional music and dancing. Featuring the Portobello Ceilidh Band.
Blairgowrie ■ The Heritage Concert Town Hall, Brown Street. 8pm. £22. Dougie MacLean leads a concert celebrating the best of Scottish music, ranging from Burns to north-east bothy ballads, and accompanied by a stellar team of Scottish musical talent. Featuring Dougie MacLean, Emily Smith, Mischa Macpherson Trio and Tom Spiers. Part of Perthshire Amber. Dundee ■ Scottish Fiddle Orchestra Caird Hall, City Square, 01382 434940. Times tbc. £tbc. The Scottish Fiddle Orchestra is the country’s foremost large ensemble for traditional music.
Dunfermline ■ Clannad Alhambra Theatre, 35 Canmore Street, 01383 740384. 7.30pm. £28.50. The internationally renowned Donegal-based band with their wispy Celtic sounds.
Sunday 26
Aberfeldy ■ Emily Smith Castle Menzies, Weem, emilysmith.org 2pm. £15. The top folk singer and a former winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year award bridges the gap between old and new in Scottish folk music. Part of Perthshire Amber.
Blairgowrie ■ Dougie MacLean and The Old Dance School Town Hall, Brown Street. 8pm. £22. Perthshire Amber boss-guy MacLean shares the bill with the much-praised Birmingham-based neo-folk outfit. Part of Perthshire Amber. Dunfermline ■ Dunfermline Folk Weekend Various venues: Dunfermline, dunfermlinefolkclub.co.uk Times vary. Prices vary. See Fri 24.
Monday 27
Methven ■ Eliza Lynn Methven Castle. 2pm. £15. Big-voiced American singer- songwriter from Asheville, NC by way of Chicago. Part of Perthshire Amber. Pitlochry ■ Dougie MacLean and Eddi Reader Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, 01796 481207. 8pm. £22. Two giants of Scottish music. Part of Perthshire Amber.
Stirling ■ James Keelaghan Stirling County Rugby Club, Causewayhead Road, 01786 478866. 8pm. £9. Canadian singer and writer of masterly narrative folk songs.
Tuesday 28
Glasgow ■ James Keelaghan The Admiral, 72a Waterloo Street, 221 7705. 8pm. £9. See Mon 27. Edinburgh FREE Cafe Ceilidh St Bride’s Centre, 10 Orwell Terrace, 346 1405. 1.30– 3.30pm. Relaxed daytime traditional music session hosted by traditional music group Linten Adie. ■ Gilly Hewitt Victoria Park Hotel, 221 Ferry Road, 454 2060. 7.30pm. £7. Folk session.
Aberfeldy ■ Dougie MacLean and The TuneBook Aberfeldy Town Hall, Crieff Road. 8pm. £22. Festival host Dougie MacLean shares a bill with the Tune Book Trio of Ross Ainslie, Simon Bradley and Mairearad Green. Part of Perthshire Amber.
Wednesday 29
Glasgow ■ Bridie Jackson & The Arbour The Old Hairdressers, Opposite Stereo, Renfield Lane, 222 2254. 7pm. £10. Folk from Newcastle vocalist Jackson accompanied on cello, violin, mandolin and bell plates. Edinburgh ■ Mike Silver Edinburgh Folk Club, Cabaret Bar, 60 The Pleasance, 650 2458. 8pm. £10 (£9; members £7). Popular, hugely experienced roots singer/guitarist.
Caputh ■ Dougie MacLean Caputh
Parish Church, Old Military Road. 2pm. £15. Scotland’s foremost folk/ roots troubadour, renowned for his meaningful, haunting music. Part of Perthshire Amber.
Peebles ■ Nordic Fiddlers Bloc Eastgate Theatre & Arts Centre, Eastgate, 01721 725777. 7.30pm. £14 (£12; children £5). The three fiddlers from northern climes (Norway, Sweden and Shetland, to be exact) play a blend of Nordic music and Gaelic song.
Pitlochry ■ Eliza Lynn, Buddy MacDonald and the Paperboys Pitlochry Town Hall, West Moulin Road. 8pm. £22. A triple bill of rootsy Americana and indeed Canadiana, from North Carolinan singer Lynn, Cape Breton singer-songwriter MacDonald and Vancouver folk-fusion outfit The Paperboys. Part of Perthshire Amber. St Andrews ■ Eilidh Steel & Mark Neal Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, fiddleguitar. com 1.10pm. £2. Traditional and contemporary folk duo on fiddle, guitar and vocals.
Thursday 30 Glasgow
Edinburgh ■ King Eider Sneaky Pete’s, 73 Cowgate, 225 1757. 7pm. £7. Acoustic folk/blues five-piece. Irvine ■ Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers Harbour Arts Centre, 114–116 Harbour Street, 01294 274059. 7.30pm. £12 (£10). Young Americana singer- songwriter who’s been likened to Emmylou Harris, Tammy Wynette and Loretta Lynn.
Friday 31
Glasgow ■ Zoe Muth & The Lost High Rollers CCA, 350 Sauchiehall Street, 352 4900. 8pm. £29. See Thu 30.
Edinburgh ■ Norloch Ceilidh Band Old St Paul’s Church, 39 Jeffrey Street, 556 3332. 7.30pm. £6 (£5; family £15). The Norloch Ceilidh Band provide the live music at this night of traditional Scottish dancing. BYOB.
Murthly ■ Duncan Chisholm Murthly Castle Chapel, Murthly & Strathbaarn Estates, 01738 494101. 2pm. £15. Top-flight fiddler in concert. Part of Perthshire Amber. Perth ■ RSNO: An Evening with Dougie MacLean Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738 621031. 8pm. £22.00. If Dougie MacLean’s only contribution to Scottish music had been his lilting march ‘The Gael’, as used to devastating effect in Michael Mann’s The Last of the Mohicans, he’d still be assured of immortality. But he’s written much else besides, including ‘Caledonia’, and he’s a great performer of traditional song. Here he has the Royal Scottish National Orchestra behind him. Part of Perthshire Amber.
Saturday 1
Loch Tay ■ The Sea Atlas Scottish Crannog Centre, Kenmore, 01887 830583. 2pm. £15. Young folk-rock band from the Western Isles. Part of Perthshire Amber. Perth ■ Dougie Maclean and Friends Perth Concert Hall, Mill Street, 01738